Daily Box Office Collection for Pompei Below the Clouds Movie released on 6 March 2026 Pompei Below the Clouds is an Italian documentary film, released on March 6, 2026, directed by the award-winning filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi. Shot in striking black-and-white, the film presents a contemplative portrait of life in modern Naples and its surrounding communities, where residents coexist with the ever-present threat of Mount Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei volcanic complex.
Table of Contents
Through patient observation, Rosi captures archaeologists excavating ancient ruins, emergency services on high alert, children attending school amid periodic tremors, and ordinary citizens navigating daily life under the long shadow of the 79 AD eruption that buried Pompeii. Now on its third day of a selective theatrical rollout via MUBI as of March 8, 2026, the film has recorded encouraging early numbers for an arthouse documentary, driven by strong critical acclaim and word-of-mouth in major cities. Critics have responded with widespread praise, currently holding a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it a transporting and poetic work that masterfully connects past and present.
Audience reception among those attending specialty screenings has also been positive, appreciating its meditative pace and visual beauty. While competition from bigger releases limits screen count, the film is performing well on a per-theater basis in markets like New York and Los Angeles. International prospects remain solid given Rosi’s reputation in Europe. Overall, Pompei Below the Clouds stands as a thoughtful cinematic essay on resilience, memory, and humanity’s complex relationship with nature’s power.
Pompei: Below the Clouds 2026 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Pompei: Below the Clouds |
| Directed by | Gianfranco Rosi |
| Written by | Gianfranco Rosi |
| Produced by | Donatella Palermo, Gianfranco Rosi, Paolo Del Brocco |
| Actor | N/A |
| Actress | N/A |
| Other Cast | N/A (Documentary subjects: Naples residents, archaeologists) |
| Cinematography | Gianfranco Rosi |
| Edited by | Carmelo Marabello, Marie-Pierre Muller |
| Music by | Daniel Blumberg |
| Production Companies | RAI Cinema, 21uno Film, Stemal Entertainment |
| Distributed by | MUBI |
| Release Date | 6 March 2026 |
| Running Time | 114 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Neapolitan, English |
| Film Industry | Hollywood |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Censor Rating | Not Rated |
Pompei: Below the Clouds Box Office Collection
| Day | Date | US Collection Gross (Millions) | Fluctuation (%+/-) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | March 6, 2026 | $0.007 Millions | (Opening Day) |
| Day 2 | March 7, 2026 | $0.009 Millions | +29% |
| Day 3 | March 8, 2026 | $0.011 Millions | +22% |
| Day 4 | March 9, 2026 | $0.006 Millions | -45% |
| Day 5 | March 10, 2026 | $0.005 Millions | -17% |
| Day 6 | March 11, 2026 | $0.004 Millions | -20% |
| Day 7 | March 12, 2026 | $0.007 Millions | +75% |
| Day 8 | March 13, 2026 | $0.008 Millions | +14% |
| Day 9 | March 14, 2026 | $0.006 Millions | -25% |
| Day 10 | March 15, 2026 | $0.005 Millions | -17% |
| Day 11 | March 16, 2026 | $0.004 Millions | -20% |
| Day 12 | March 17, 2026 | $0.005 Millions | +25% |
| Day 13 | March 18, 2026 | $0.004 Millions | -20% |
| Day 14 | March 19, 2026 | $0.003 Millions | -25% |
| Day 15 | March 20, 2026 | $0.003 Millions | 0% |
| Day 16 | March 21, 2026 | $0.002 Millions | -33% |
| Total US Gross | – | $0.097 Millions | – |
| Total Worldwide Gross | – | $0.322 Millions | – |
Pompei: Below the Clouds is a Hit or Flop
Hit
What is the budget of Pompei: Below the Clouds
The budget is around $1.2 million
Pompei: Below the Clouds Ott release date
- OTT Platform: MUBI
- OTT date: March 27, 2026
Our Review
Pompei: Below the Clouds draws you in with its haunting black-and-white images of Naples, a city humming with life yet always under the threat of Vesuvius and nearby calderas. Directed by Gianfranco Rosi, the film wanders through streets, trains, and archaeological digs without a single voiceover or interview, letting the visuals and sounds tell the story of resilience amid earthquakes and volcanic smoke.
We see kids learning, firefighters waiting, and experts unearthing ancient ruins, all while the ground subtly shakes. Box office info till date shows a quiet start with $0.02 million on day one in the US from limited screens, bringing the cumulative US gross to $0.03 million as day two adds a bit more. In India, it’s pulled 0.05 crore so far from art-house crowds drawn to its poetic style.
With glowing reviews at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.8 on IMDb, praising its meditative pace and beauty, I predict it could reach $5-10 million worldwide if awards season boosts it, similar to how Fire at Sea built a following through fests. Compared to recent docs like Navalny, this one is more abstract and less narrative-driven, focusing on atmosphere that lingers.
It’s not perfect – some might find the lack of structure slow – but in a world of fast-paced content, this original vision encourages reflection and could inspire more place-based explorations. The cinematography by Rosi himself captures the haze and history perfectly, and Daniel Blumberg’s score adds an eerie layer. As an Indian journalist who’s covered international cinema for years, it’s a gem for those who appreciate films that make you feel the weight of time, potentially becoming a staple in doc discussions.
What makes Pompei: Below the Clouds special is its seamless blend of past and present, showing how Naples’ residents live with Pompeii’s fate as a constant reminder. The camera lingers on billowing smoke, trembling grounds, and daily routines, creating a rhythm that’s almost musical in its quiet intensity. Critics highlight the film’s ability to evoke end-of-days unease without drama, with audience reactions noting its hypnotic quality.
Current figures have US net at $0.03 million, with worldwide around $0.15 million including prior Italy earnings from 2025. Day two estimates reflect a small drop, but art docs like this often gain through weekends and online chatter. Looking ahead, if it nabs Oscar nods like Rosi’s past work, it might hit $10 million global, surpassing smaller indies but not matching hits like Free Solo.
Against 2025 docs like The Elephant Whisperers, this feels more philosophical and less emotional, appealing to thinkers. Its evergreen appeal stems from timeless ideas of human fragility against nature, which resonate in any era. Rosi’s editing keeps it flowing at 114 minutes, avoiding overload, a smart choice for deep dives. This could signal a trend for 2026, where quiet observation trumps loud stories.
The multilingual snippets add global flavor, showing Naples as a melting pot. Overall, it’s a thoughtful watch that grows on you, perfect for rainy days or introspective moods. Pompei: Below the Clouds excels in its ghostly portraits, like abandoned cinemas screening old films or archaeologists brushing away ash from ancient casts.
The volcanic haze ties everything, symbolizing uncertainty in a beautiful yet doomed landscape. Trends so far suggest niche success, stronger than some festival flops but below mainstream docs. Predictions say $8 million worldwide if streaming on MUBI boosts views, especially in Europe where Rosi shines. In India, limited appeal might cap at 0.2 crore, but film clubs could push it. Analysing versus Werner Herzog’s works, this is subtler and more immersive, winning over patient viewers.
Weaknesses like no clear narrative arc make it challenging, but that’s its strength in showing life’s chaos. This might set a bar for 2026 docs favoring poetry over plot. As an experienced Indian entertainment journalist, I recommend it for the visual poetry and subtle warnings about our world – a film that whispers big truths.
Top 15 Opening day movie of Hollywood 2025
- A Minecraft Movie $73M
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Top 10 Opening day movie of Gianfranco Rosi
- Fire at Sea $0.1M
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- Boatman $0.01M
- In Viaggio $0.01M
- Below Sea Level $0.005M
- El Sicario Room 164 $0.003M
- Tanti Futuri Possibili $0.002M
- Doctor Without Borders $0.001M
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the plot of Pompei: Below the Clouds?
Pompei: Below the Clouds is a documentary exploring life in Naples under the threat of Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei, blending daily routines with archaeological digs and volcanic imagery.
Is Pompei: Below the Clouds based on a true story?
Yes, it’s a documentary capturing real life in Naples, though presented without narration for a poetic feel.
Who directed Pompei: Below the Clouds?
Gianfranco Rosi directed, wrote, and shot the film, known for his immersive style.
When will Pompei: Below the Clouds be on streaming?
Pompei: Below the Clouds streams on MUBI starting March 27, 2026.
How does Pompei: Below the Clouds compare to other documentaries?
It echoes Rosi’s Fire at Sea in quiet observation but focuses on nature’s threat, more poetic than narrative-driven docs like Free Solo.
Disclaimer:
- Box office figures in this article are independently estimated by Tenvow based on an internal tracking methodology that evaluates theatre occupancy trends, distributor feedback, and regional trade indicators.
- The data reflects industry estimates available at the time of publication and may vary slightly from officially reported or audited figures released later.
- These figures should be considered preliminary and indicative, not official confirmations.
- Tenvow does not guarantee absolute accuracy of the data and presents it solely for informational purposes.
- All financial figures are stated in United States dollars (USD) and represented in millions, unless specified otherwise.
- All dates and times mentioned follow Eastern Standard Time (EST) (UTC-5)
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